- Home
- Front Page
- Graffiti vandals strike hard
Graffiti vandals strike hard
- By Chris Thorn
- Published 12/3/2008
- Front Page
- Unrated
Graffiti has become more of an issue in the past couple weeks with a total of 11 reported incidents spanning from the new Helm’s Hardware on N. Wenas Road to City Hall and multiple schools. In the three weeks prior a total of three incidents were reported.
“We don’t know where it’s coming from,” said Sergeant Tracy Rosenow of the Selah Police Department. “We got hit at Helm’s and across the city.”
However, the incident at Helm’s on Monday, Nov. 24, was a rare case where an arrest was made. Rosenow said the alleged vandals were followed into Yakima and the people in the car were later identified.
He also described another incident that occurred more than a month ago at Wixson Park.
“We got hit pretty hard over there and the officer made an arrest,” Rosenow said.
Graffiti was also discussed at the Selah City Council meeting Nov. 25. Council member John Tierney suggested cash rewards be offered leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals. Councilmember Summer Derrey suggested cameras be put in place in certain places throughout the city.
Rosenow said most graffiti cases do not result in an arrest because if the vandals aren’t caught in the act, it’s hard to do anything.
He said the Selah Police Department works with the Yakima Police Department to try and match up graffiti and pursue vandals that way as well but said that method takes some time and matches don’t always turn out.
“The biggest thing is for people to call us,” he said. “If you see something that doesn’t look right call it in.”
Rosenow added to stay in a comfortable position and keep eyes on the vehicle or person until the police arrive because the vandals are often gone by the time the police arrive.
“We don’t know where it’s coming from,” said Sergeant Tracy Rosenow of the Selah Police Department. “We got hit at Helm’s and across the city.”
However, the incident at Helm’s on Monday, Nov. 24, was a rare case where an arrest was made. Rosenow said the alleged vandals were followed into Yakima and the people in the car were later identified.
He also described another incident that occurred more than a month ago at Wixson Park.
“We got hit pretty hard over there and the officer made an arrest,” Rosenow said.
Graffiti was also discussed at the Selah City Council meeting Nov. 25. Council member John Tierney suggested cash rewards be offered leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals. Councilmember Summer Derrey suggested cameras be put in place in certain places throughout the city.
Rosenow said most graffiti cases do not result in an arrest because if the vandals aren’t caught in the act, it’s hard to do anything.
He said the Selah Police Department works with the Yakima Police Department to try and match up graffiti and pursue vandals that way as well but said that method takes some time and matches don’t always turn out.
“The biggest thing is for people to call us,” he said. “If you see something that doesn’t look right call it in.”
Rosenow added to stay in a comfortable position and keep eyes on the vehicle or person until the police arrive because the vandals are often gone by the time the police arrive.